Kotex Tampons Recalled After Reports of some of ‘Pieces Left in the Body’

Certain Kotex tampons are being recalled after some users reported that
the product unraveled or came apart, and in some cases, resulted in
“pieces left in the body” that required medical attention, according to a
new recall announcement.

Yesterday (Dec. 11), Kimberly-Clark, the makers of Kotex, issued a recall of certain lots of its “U by Kotex Sleek Tampons, Regular Absorbency” product, sold in the United States and Canada. The recall is limited to lots that were manufactured between Oct. 7, 2016 and Oct. 16, 2018; and distributed between Oct. 17, 2016 and Oct. 23, 2018, according to the company’s statement.

The recall is due to a “quality-related defect that could impact the
performance of this product,” the statement said. Specifically, the
company received reports of the tampons “unraveling and/or coming apart”
when users tried to remove them. In some cases, this defect resulted in
pieces of the tampon breaking off and being left in the body, which
required medical attention to remove, the statement said.

The company also received a small number of reports of infections, vaginal irritation, localized vaginal injury and other symptoms tied to the recalled product.

Consumers can identify the recalled tampons by checking the lot numbers found on the bottom of the package. A list of the recalled lot numbers is available in the recall statement. Users can also check their product’s lot number on the Kotex website.

People who bought these tampons should stop using them immediately and call Kimberly-Clark’s Consumer Service team at 1-888-255-3499 for information on the recall, the statement said. Users who experience symptoms such as vaginal pain, bleeding or discomfort; vaginal itching or swelling; symptoms of bladder or yeast infections; or abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, should seek immediate medical attention.